Wednesday, 13 August, 2008 | 10:25 WIB<\/p>\n
TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: Government will allow industries to import plastic waste in order to meet the demand for cheaper raw materials.<\/p>\n
Albert Tubogu, Director for Imports at the Department of Trade, said that the ban will be cancelled soon.<\/p>\n
\u201cIndustries have been complaining about expensive raw materials due to the fuel prices hike,\u201d he said yesterday.<\/p>\n
According to him, currently plastic manufacturers are making use of a lot of plastic waste as raw materials.<\/p>\n
\u201cIndustries asked for the ban to be cancelled,\u201d said Albert.<\/p>\n
The Government previously prohibited industries from importing plastic waste under the regulation No. 520\/MPP\/Kep\/8\/2003.<\/p>\n
Albert explained that the Minister of Trade will only allow industries to import re-cycled plastic waste.<\/p>\n
\u201cNot all industries can import this plastic, only importer producers,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Department of Industry will verify their importing needs and give recommendation to the applicant,\u201d Albert said.<\/p>\n
Currently, a team from the Department of Trade, the Department of Industry, and the State ministry for the Environment are working on revising the regulation.<\/p>\n
The revision will explain which products are harmless and can be imported.<\/p>\n
According to the Indonesian Plastic and Olefin Industry Association, during the first half of 2008 prices of plastic raw material for polyethylene and polypropylene increased by 100 percent, from US$1,100 to US$2,200 per ton.<\/p>\n
CORNILA DESYANA<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/imports-of-plastic-waste-to-be-allowed-1218604352", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }